Hand-gripping tool



HAND-GRIPPING TOOL Filed March 31, 1944 LD'C/ark.

MWW

Patented Aug. 14, 1945 N TED TAT Es PATE This invention relates to a hand-gripping tool, and it is primarily an object of the invention to provide a tool' which constitutes a wrench of a plier type..

I ,It is also an object of the invention to, provide a tool of this kind which readily permitsyisibleseta tings, whereby the efficiency of the toolis materially increased andwherein the tool is constructed in a manner resulting in a substantial saving of materialywithout sacrificing the effectiveness of the tool. I I I v A still further object of the invention is to provide a tool of this kind including, a Sliding jaw, together with positive stops for limitingthemovement of such jaw, and wherein the operating member of the sliding jaw coacts therewith in a manner to maintain said movable jaw in applied or working position.

The invention consistsin the details of-.con-, struction and in the combination and arrange ment of the. several parts of my improved handping tool constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the device as illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of the inner face of the holding head as herein embodied;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary edge elevational view of the head carrying the fixed jaw;

Figure 5 is a view in side elevation of the sliding jaw, unapplied; and

Figure 6 is a view in end elevation of the structure illustrated in Figure 5.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawing, I denotes a fiat head of desired dimensions and which has its outer margin (1 of material length and substantially straight. The head I at one edge portion of this margin a has integrally formed therewith an outstanding fixed or integral jaw 2 which is of a width to extend the desired distance beyond the straight edge a of the head I.

The under or inner face of this extended portion of the jaw 2 is undercut, as at 3, to snugly receive the upper beveled edge face b of the elongated shank 4 extending laterally from the lower portion of a sliding jaw 5. This shank 4 at its lower portion is provided with a laterally directed guide flange 6 which snugly engages within ::a groove or channel I inithe face of the head I beyond which the fixedjaw Zextends.

The under longitudinal margin of the shank .4 is provided with a series of. equidistantly spaced notches 8 into which is. adapted to be selectively received an outstanding tooth 9 radially disposed with respect to. an arcuate edge face I ,0 of a head I I carried by an end portion of a lever I2.

This selective engagement of the tooth 9 withinv a notch 8 permits of .a-desired adjustmentof therelative setting. of the jaws 2 and 5 as determined by the size of the work with which the tool isto be employed. The head II of the lever I2-is provided along its arcuate edge face III with an out-, standing flange I4 which overlies the outerface of the shank 4 whereby the shank 4 together with I the, movable jaw 5 carried thereby is effectively held and maintained in desired assembled position without requiring any boxlike structure as previously in common use through which the, shank is slidably directed.

The head II is pivotally held indesired position upon the head I by theremovable pivot member I5. By oscillating the head I I to a sufiicient' extent by swinging the handle I2 outwardly, the desired adjustment of the jaws 2 and 5 may be readily efiected and in order to facilitate such adjustment, the outer face of the shank 4 is provided with the gauge lines I6. These lines are so placed that when the tooth 9 is free from the notches 8, a quick adjustment of the head may be made by locating one of the lines at the edge of the face of the fixed jaw 2, which results in locating the notches 8 so that the tooth will move directly into a notch when the handles are closed.

The head I below the groove I and to one side of the pivotal mounting between the heads I and II is provided with an outstanding stop lug IT with which engages a depending lug I 8 at the extremity of the shank 4 remote from the removable jaw 5 whereby the extent of sliding movement of the jaw 5 away from the jaw 2 is positively limited.

The head I is herein disclosed as rigid with the second lever I9 which coacts in a well known manner with the lever I2.

The marginal portions of the heads I and II are provided with the coacting notches 20 whereby the tool, when desired, may be employed as a wire cutter and the outer extremity of one of the operating levers I9 is'formed to provide a blade 22 to enable said lever to be conveniently used as a screw-driver.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the tool is one which provides a pair of powerful parallel plier jaws whereby the tool, when desired, can be effectively used as a hand vise and by a linesman as a splicing clamp. 'The tool is also one which can be readily employed as a pipe wrench and also to be effectively used as an adjustable wrench with sumcient strength to hold a nut without relative opening movement of the jaws. with the resultant cutting of the. -corners of the nut. ,,i-' m 1';,

It is also to be pointed out that the sliding jaw 5 is extended to overlie the straight margin a of the head I and that said extended porbevel of said straight margin a, whereby the sliding jaw is further effectively maintained in:-

applied or working position.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that ai .-handgrippingr i001? cowstructed in accordancewith my invention is particularly welladapteddor use by reason oi th'e. convenience and facility with which it .maybe assembledazndoperatediv I What lssclaimed-ix 1. A tool of thei class' described comprising: two overlying heads, means- 101: piwotally' cone necting one head to the. othenileverscarriedby' said heads and extending in the same general direction to provide means for rotating 'onie' of the heads relative to the other, anfixed jawnex-r tending outwardly from onef of-the heads; margin ofsaid one head to one side ofthe jaw being substantially straight, a race oi 'sai'd onc the fixed jaw, and anoperative connection between the second'head and the shank for posing endwise movement to the shank upon relative rotation of the heal-1's,--'said second head being provided with an outstanding flange por-- tion overlying the shank to hold the shank and the jaw carried thereby in working position.

2. A tool of the class described comprising two overlying heads, means for pivotally connecting one head to the other, levers carried by said heads and extending in the same general direction to provide means for rotating one of the heads relative to the other, a fixed jaw extending outwardly from one of the heads, the margin oi said-one head to one side of the jaw being su s nflififi! Straight, a face of said one head being provided with a guide groove parallel to said substantially straight margin, a shank having a guide flange extending within the groove,

a jaWextending from one end portion of the shank inthe same general direction as the fixed law, an operative connection between the second head and the shank for imposing endwise movement to the shank upon relative rotation of the heads, said second head being provided with an outstanding flange portion overlying the shank to hold the shank and the jaw car-- ried therebyin working: position, a.- stop' lug carried by the first head to one side thereof, and a. lug depending.- from the shank at the extremitythereof remote from the second head for contact with the first ing to limit theextant of opening movement of the jaw of the: shank.

3. A tool as set forth in-ciaim' 1, wherein the: operative connection between the second M and the shank comprises longitudinally spaced notches in the shank, and a tooth carried by the second head selectively engaging in one 015 recesses and wherein the mounting of the M is releasable.

4. A tool as set forth in claim 1, wherein operative connection between the second headand the shank comprises longitudinally spaced notches in' the shank, a tooth carried by the second head selectively engaging in one of the re-'- cesses and wherein the mounting of the heads is releasable, and means carried by the shank to facilitate locating a notch in" position toreceive the tooth. v

LEON D. CLARK. 

